Traveling for a month visiting friends and cities, I’ve been feeling the disciplines and ethics of Yoga bumping each other around. Like these turtles in the Munich Botanical Gardens~ stay on the log and rest, or paddle my curious self around to explore. Get out of the water when I’ve had enough. Try not to knock someone off a log.

The guidelines of Yoga invite us to navigate having contentment with possibly doing harm, to cultivate purity and accept circumstances, “as it is.”

For instance, you would think traveling in Italy would be a culinary dream. Instead, breakfast becomes a survey of cheese, ham, and bread options. Which available choice will bring my histamine-intolerant system the least amount of harm while providing contentment, health, and fuel?

Fortunately, those guidelines also include surrender. While this is generally understood to be the Divine or God, I figure it can include Italian cured meats. If I don’t eat in the spirit of maintaining some kind of purity, that might invoke a worse harm. No food and I’m scattered trying to find transportation or my lodging.

Here’s what this trip has clarified. Know enough about myself to make a decision in the moment. The ethical grounding of Yoga, or whatever system you use, helps hold the decision. Then be OK with it. Notice I’m not qualifying “decision.” Sometimes it’s helpful not to fret about “good” or “best”—I’ll probably forget the whole thing by tomorrow.

However, I might remember that “croque monsieur” on black bread with Max the Italian waiter not-so-patiently trying to teach me how to say “Grazie.” I failed, a minor example of acceptance and trying not to harm the Italians. I exited with a sunny “Ciao!” Max laughed.

I’m reminded how “do no harm” really is the basis of Yoga and other spiritual systems. That it includes keeping myself fueled and creating the travel experience I want. It isn’t perfect or usually very tidy. And neither are those clumsy, elegant turtles. What beauty.